Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
TYOS
Whenever Arlen suggested leaving our tent, I dragged him back to me and claimed his lips, distracting him until he melted in my arms and no longer cared to leave.
It was selfish of me, he was still new and had lessons to attend, but having him in my tent, being able to touch him as I pleased and burying myself inside him whenever I had the chance, it was too perfect for me to give up willingly.
“Tyos! You cannot stay in there forever! You have duties!” Dras called through the tent. He didn’t enter without my permission, it was my space and respected as such, but his tone was exasperated. This wasn’t the first time he tried to get me away from Arlen.
Pretending not to hear him, I drew the furs over our heads, covering Arlen’s ears and pressing a kiss to his forehead in hopes of keeping him asleep. I’d kept him busy the past few days, and he was tired. He needed his rest.
I heard murmurs outside my tent, and I strained to listen and hear what was being said, but whoever spoke did so too low for me to understand.
It wasn’t until the flap of my tent rustled that I finally dragged the furs back down, mouth opening to snarl at whoever dared enter my tent.
I nearly swallowed my tongue when I realized who it was.
“Clan leader…”
His expression was flat and annoyed, and I felt my heart stutter in my chest. Perhaps we’d been in here too long…
“You are neglecting your duties, Tyos. For what reason do you do this?”
Before I could answer, Arlen shifted, making those sweet sleepy sounds that tugged at my heartstrings as he pulled the blanket off his face.
He looked around with a frown, and when his gaze landed on Idrull, it took him a long moment to recognize the visitor.
When he did, his eyes went wide, and he yanked the furs back up, hiding himself from the clan leader’s wrath.
I almost wished I could join him, especially when Idrull’s expression darkened and locked on me.
“Tell me you have not been keeping Arlen from his lessons to indulge yourself.”
“Uh…”
I searched my mind for some sort of excuse, but I could think of none. I had been selfish. I couldn’t help it when it came to Arlen.
A delicate voice cleared their throat just outside the tent. “Can I come in?”
Idrull stepped aside for his bondmate, opening the flap for her. I felt my face flush. Idrull was a strict leader, though not unkind. His bondmate, however, would not hold back from shaming me for my actions. I didn’t wish to put Arlen in a bad light just before claiming him.
Frida stepped into my tent, giving the mess that had accumulated over the past few days a cursory look before raising her eyebrow at me. “I’ve heard rumors you intended to claim someone but have yet to meet the man. Why are you hiding him away?”
“Because he is self-indulgent and–” Idrull began, only to be cut off by Frida’s elbow in his gut. He rubbed at the spot she’d elbowed him, frowning at her. “Why do you injure me, kolrav? It’s true.”
“And for all you know, his bondmate can understand you,” Frida countered. She turned her attention to the lump that was Arlen under the furs, a smile tugging at her lips as she switched to the common tongue. “You can come out, you know. No one will shame you here for being with the one you love.”
Slowly, Arlen peeked out, only pulling the furs low enough to expose his eyes and his mussed hair.
His face was bright red, and when I realized he looked close to tears, I immediately pulled him into my arms, giving my clan leader a pleading look.
“We will join the clan for the morning meal. Give him a moment. Please.”
Idrull was not unfair. He must have understood Arlen’s expression as I did because he nodded, taking Frida’s elbow to guide her out. She spoke over her shoulder, giving Arlen a soft smile. “You’ll come eat with me. I want to meet our newest clan member. See you soon.”
The moment they were out of sight, I gave my full attention to Arlen, my tone apologetic as I hugged him close. “I’m sorry. I didn't think my absence would draw their attention. Please don’t be upset.”
Shaking his head, he buried his face against my chest. “I… I thought for a moment you were in trouble. For being with me…”
A sharp twinge in my chest made me ache. Arlen spent his whole life terrified of others finding out of his interests. Having my clan leader come in here looking cross like he had must have been terrifying for him.
“No, kolrav. That not how things work here. You are safe–”
“I know that,” he murmured, but when he pulled away, his face was twisted with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “I mean, I’ve seen the way the other couples love on each other without fear of being seen. I just… I guess I wasn’t fully awake and old habits die hard.”
That was an expression I didn’t recognize, and once he noticed my confusion, he had to explain it to me for me to better understand what he was feeling.
“It means… I haven’t yet lost the fear of being caught with a man. I wasn’t fully awake, and my old way of thinking came to the fore before I remembered that I was safe here. It… might take a while for me to change that mindset.”
Cupping his cheeks in both hands, I kissed his lips gently, resting my forehead against his. “You take all time you need. You are safe.”
His smile came back, though it was more tremulous than before. I set to reassuring him, peppering him with kisses until a true smile spread across his face and he straightened his arms to keep me away with a laugh. “No! No putting me back under your spell! They’re waiting for us!”
Letting out a heavy sigh, I nodded. “They are. If I delay, Idrull give me trench duty.” I shuddered at the thought. It was an effective punishment, and one I avoided at all costs.
Arlen paled, his expression horrified. “He won’t give us trench duty for being in here for days, will he?”
Shaking my head, I gave him a reassuring kiss on his forehead before finally sitting up.
“Not you. Bondmates are safe. Me, though…” I wasn’t sure about that, and I was a little afraid to find out.
The thought got me moving, and I jerked on trousers and boots, helping Arlen to dress quickly so we could join the clan leader and his bondmate for the morning meal.
Perhaps I had been a little thoughtless when deciding to stay with Arlen and refusing to leave our tent.
Arlen clung to my arm as we walked into our makeshift village center.
With clans so close together, one ran into the other in some areas, but the largest fires marked the village centers as best they could.
I looked forward to splitting from the clans and being on our own again.
While getting to know fellow clan brothers was interesting, it was easier to protect my clan members when there was space between us and other clans.
Idrull and Frida were seated on a few cushions, talking to–
“Shit.”
Arlen was unfamiliar with the curse and looked up at me in confusion, his brows drawn together tightly. “What does that word mean?”
“I, uh…” I wasn’t sure I wanted to explain that to him. And I really wasn’t sure about introducing him to my parents. He’d already had a fright that morning. This would be too much.
My father looked in my direction first, giving me that look that said I would not get out of the conversation waiting for me. I grimaced, my tone apologetic as I told Arlen, “The two sitting next to clan leader? They my parents. Here to meet you.”
Arlen tripped over his own feet, that terrified expression returning to his face that made me want to pull out my sword and cut down anything that made him feel that way.
I held back the urge, knowing his fear was because of his old way of thinking, not because of anything that would happen here.
We needed to speak with them so he no longer felt that old fear.
“Be at ease, velren. They good people. You are safe.”
I would keep repeating that until he believed me. He was safe here.
He nodded, but his body trembled as we approached the group, and his grip on my arm tightened so much that his knuckles turned white. To my surprise, my mother and Frida both stood, swarming Arlen and pulling him away from me, their tones both soothing and sweet.
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t be afraid,” my mother cooed. “You are safe here.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know Idrull visiting you this morning would frighten you so much,” Frida added. “I promise, you’ve done nothing wrong. Lyra is right, you’re safe. Oh, you poor thing. You’ve gone pale. Come sit. Drin will bring food in just a moment.”
They ushered him to the cushions, petting his hair and holding his hands, while I stood motionless, bewildered by what just happened. Did they really steal him from me?
My father snorted, tipping his head toward the cushion next to him that my mother just vacated. “Sit, son. Let them put your man at ease while you explain to me why you’ve been home for three days and have yet to visit us. Did you wish to break your mother’s heart?”
Arlen might be safe from their wrath, but apparently, I wasn’t. I grimaced, sitting where he indicated, and offered him a strained smile. “I have no excuse. I was selfish and wanted to be alone with Arlen. It is not an excuse to neglect my duties or my family. I apologize.”
Idrull huffed, shooting me a scowl. “You just lost me a bet, I hope you know. Frida said you’d take responsibility. I bet that you would make excuses.”
Frida leaned around Arlen, giving her bondmate a haughty look. “Maybe that’ll teach you to listen to me. I watched Tyos grow. A moment of indulgence doesn’t replace a lifetime of putting his clan first. He’s a good man.”
My father studied Idrull, a smile tugging at his lips. “What did you bet exactly?”
Idrull’s expression flattened. “She said if she was right, I wasn’t allowed to punish him for ignoring his duties.” He turned to me again. “You are indebted to my bondmate. I was going to put you on trench duty for ignoring the repeated reminders to leave your tent.”
Letting out an awkward laugh, I leaned forward to give Frida an appreciative smile. “Thank you, Frida. You are a goddess among men.”
She snorted, rolling her eyes, and gave her attention back to Arlen, who was watching the interaction while my mother leaned close to whisper in his ear, likely translating for him because I’d been so selfish that I kept him from his lessons. I’d need to make it up to him for that.
“Fine,” Idrull finally said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You are spared. For now. Ignore your duties again and even my bondmate won’t be able to rescue you.”